Potential Vorticity Diagnostic Analysis on the Impact of the Easterlies Vortex on the Short-term Movement of the Subtropical Anticyclone over the Western Pacific in the Mei-yu Period

By employing NCEP−NCAR 1°×1°reanalysis datasets,the mechanism of the easterlies vortex(EV)affecting the short-term movement of the subtropical anticyclone over the western Pacific(WPSA)in the mei-yu period is examined using potential vorticity(PV)theory.The results show that when the EV and the westerlies vortex(WV)travel west/east to the same longitude of 120°E,the WPSA suddenly retreats.The EV and WV manifest as the downward transport of PV in the upper troposphere,and the variation of the corresponding high-value regions of PV significantly reflects the intensity changes of the EV and WV.The meridional propagation of PV causes the intensity change of the EV.The vertical movement on both sides of the EV is related to the position of the EV relative to the WPSA and the South Asian high(SAH).When the high PV in the easterlies and westerlies arrive at the same longitude in the meridional direction,the special circulation pattern will lower the position of PV isolines at the ridge line of the WPSA.Thus,the cyclonic circulation at the lower level will be strengthened,causing the abnormally eastward retreat of the WPSA.Analysis of the PV equation at the isentropic surface indicates that when the positive PV variation west of the EV intensifies,it connects with the positive PV variation east of the WV,forming a positive PV band and making the WPSA retreat abnormally.The horizontal advection of the PV has the greatest effect.The contribution of the vertical advection of PV and the vertical differential of heating is also positive,but the values are relatively small.The contribution of the residual was negative and it becomes smaller before and after the WPSA retreats.

Case Study on the Impact of the Vortex in the Easterlies in the Tropical Upper Troposphere on the Western Pacific Subtropical Anticyclone

By employing the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data （1000-10 hPa, 2.5°×2.5°）, the impact of the vortex in the easterlies （EV） over the tropical upper troposphere on the zonal movement of the western Pacific subtropical anticyclone （WPSA） during 19-25 June 2003 is analyzed in this paper. It is shown that the EV can extend from middle troposphere to the height of 50 hPa, reaching a maximum at 200 hPa. The vertical thermal distribution appears to be ＂warmer in the upper layer and colder in the lower layer＂. The WPSA retreats eastward abnormally when the EV and the vortex in the westerlies （WV） encounter around the same longitude while they move toward each other. It is also shown that the vorticity variation extends from the troposphere to the height of 50 hPa, with the most prominent change occurring at 200 hPa by the diagnostic analyses of the vertical vorticity equation. The WPSA appears to retreat abnormally eastward while the negative/positive vorticity change becomes stronger near the east/west side of the EV, and the areas with positive vorticity tendency both in the EV and WV join together into one belt along 130°E during the process of the EV and the WV moving toward each other. In the vorticity equation, the positive contribution caused by the horizontal advection term is the maximum, and the minimum is caused by theβ effect. It is also found that enhanced horizontal vorticity advection andβ effect, as well as the ＂barotropic development＂ resulted from the in-phase superposition of the southerly and the northerly winds in the easterlies and westerlies near 130~E, are in agreement with the WPSA eastward retreat.